The LED market for 2014 will see continued growth for the general lighting market and supply shortage of LED chips due to increasing demands from the LED lighting market, according to a recent report from UBS. In the report, the financial service company provides their outlook for Everlight and Epistar 2014 operation performance.

Universal Display Corporation, enabling energy-efficient displays and lighting with its UniversalPHOLED® technology and materials, today announced a collaboration and evaluation agreement with Philips Technologie GmbH, Business Center OLED Lighting. Under this agreement, Universal Display will begin supplying Philips with its highly efficient phosphorescent OLED (PHOLED) materials for solid-state lighting applications.

Direct-view type LED TV aka chubby TV with its cost advantages and has been a market highlight in 2013. Chubby TV has been using secondary optic lens to continually improve its features. By increasing beam angle, the LED TV has successfully met the challenge of shortening OD to 15 mm without adding LEDs. The chubby TV not only has cost advantages, it has also shed off its thick appearance and now holds the same advantages as the thin edge-view type LED TV. The industry predicts 15 mm OD TV model will become the next major industry spec in 2014.

United Mechanical and Electrical Co. (United M&E) invested RMB 320 million (US $53.33 million) in an offshore energy efficient, environmental, and clean energy project. Subsidiaries Zhejiang United Mechanical and Electrical Co. and Insigma Technology Corp. accepted Mexico City Government’s LED street light tender. 

Ultraviolet (UV) light usually are light waves with 100 to 280 nanometer (nm) wavelengths, according to a report by Chinese-language newspaper Science and Technology Daily. These lights are mostly used to kill germs, used medically, and in biochemical tests. At the same time, UV LEDs advantages have inspired many new consumer electronics to adopt these applications, for example in white household appliances disinfection modules, portable water purification systems, smartphone disinfection and others. It shows wide market applications, and has become the next popular global LED R&D and investment field after semiconductor LED. 

Universal Display Corporation, enabling energy-efficient displays and lighting with its UniversalPHOLED(R) technology and materials, today announced that the European Patent Office (EPO) issued a decision on the previously-disclosed appeal of a prior ruling relating to the Company's European Patent No. 1449238 (the EP '238 patent). The EPO panel revoked the patent previously allowed by the lower EPO, which had upheld the broadest claim of coverage for organometallic iridium device architectures. The opposing parties included Sumitomo Chemical Company, Merck Patent GmbH and BASF SE.

With the official launch of LEED v4 at the 2013 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Philadelphia this week, North American lighting leader OSRAM SYLVANIA is showcasing at Booth #2519 the latest in traditional and solid state lighting solutions and controls that can help businesses meet and achieve LEED prerequisites and points. For over 40 years, OSRAM SYLVANIA has led the way in introducing products that deliver energy savings to customers and reduce CO2 emissions from power plants.

It’s no surprise that consumers are overwhelmed by all of the changes happening in the lighting aisle, and research shows that most aren’t ready to make the leap to newer energy-efficient lighting solutions. In fact, consumers are purchasing GE Energy-Efficient Soft White bulbs at a rate of two-to-one compared to compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs, according to Nielsen.

PPG Industries and Universal Display Corporation today marked the opening of a world-class organic light-emitting diode (OLED) materials production facility at PPG’s Barberton, Ohio plant. This new site, which PPG owns and operates, commenced manufacturing earlier this month and will foster the expanded development and production of Universal Display’s phosphorescent OLED (UniversalPHOLED®) materials. “This investment furthers our commitment in this growing technology area and expands our partnership with Universal Display. As the market demand for energy-efficient, high-performance OLED displays and lighting devices continues to grow, we are better prepared today to meet their needs.

Sammi Gros has invented a new type of LED “Tail Lights.” They are not your usual LED tail lights for automotive applications, but six LED double sided strands clipped to horse tails. According to Kickstarter’s product introduction, Gros decided to launch safety lights for equestrian lovers after being hit by a car during a riding trip with a friend four years ago. The safety lights for horses aims to help avoid potential motor accidents for riders.

British LED lighting company PhotonStar Technology Ltd. has announced its new consumer Smart Bulb system Halcyon™, to be available to the general market early 2014 but with a small pre-production run to go to Kickstarter backers in the next few weeks.

Verbatim announces the launch of its ground-breaking Natural Vision VxRGB™ technology, available as realistic candle (Classic B) and MR16 retrofit LED lamps. The products are being launched at Lux Live – one of Europe’s key lighting trade shows held in London, opening today.

Chinese manufacturers offer more insight into the sapphire substrate and MOCVD market this week. Chinese MOCVD manufacturer TOPEC aims to challenge Veeco’s dominance in China’s MOCVD equipment market, while Guizhou Haotian Opto offers insights causing the market’s current sapphire substrate shortages. In addition, Chinese experts share their perspective on the recent global LED patent battles, and how Japanese manufacturers are taking the lead with core technology patents. LEDinside analysts have also come up with brand new reports this week that shed insights on the global LED lighting market trends for 2014. 

Chinese-language online media STCN.Com reporters interviewed Ji Yong, General Manager and Chairman of Guizhou Haotian Optoelectronics Technology Co. (Guizhou Haotian Opto), during the 10th OfWeek LED Seminar 2013 and OfWeek LED Awards in Shenzhen on Nov. 15, 2013. Ji shares his observations on the sapphire substrate market developments and the impact from GT Advanced Technology (GTAT) and Apple partnership.

Chinese-language online media STCN.Com reporters interviewed Tang Optoelectronics Equipment Co. (TOPEC) Chairman and CEO Steve Chen during the 10th OfWeek LED Seminar 2013 and OfWeek LED Awards in Shenzhen on Nov. 15, 2013. The TOPEC leader shares insights on MOCVD equipment market developments in China. 

Following iPhone 5S adoption of dual-flash LED, smartphones are expected to set off a new dual color flash LED trend. The market is very optimistic about growth in demand for flash LED. The two main supply chains for flash LED are separated into vertical chip manufacturers including Osram, Cree, and Samsung and flip chip manufacturers, such as Philips Lumileds, and Nichia. Taiwanese manufacturers Epistar and Genesis Photonics Inc. (GPI) are also following suit to grab flash LED market shares.

BOE announced the 5.5 generation AMOLED production line to be established in the still under construction subsidiary Ordos BOE. The production line will be the first in China and second in the world to launch productions.

Penetration rates for flash LED in smartphone applications has already reached 100 percent. Ample business opportunities are attracting many within the industry. Main f lash LED driver specs have been 1000mA, 500mA, and 350mA in 2013. Industry insiders believe that LED development in 2014 will take on a M shape, with 1000mA leading the pack for high= voltage flash LED drivers and 350mA on top for low-current flash LED drivers.

The story behind LED development—only the 4th lighting technology developed in human history—is remarkable. The potential ahead of LED lighting to deliver real and measurable advantages—to save energy, last years longer, significantly lower bottom-line costs—is limitless.  But for it to be the next great defining feature of the lighting landscape, LED lighting needs to work.

With ‘modest progress’ and a ‘growing sense of realism’ being widely reported to sum up the mood at this year’s climate change talks, Philips is calling for renewed optimism and action. This is based on the energy savings impact the company is seeing from the implementation of energy efficient lighting technologies such as LED.

Rubicon Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:RBCN), a leading provider of sapphire substrates and products to the LED, semiconductor, and optical markets, today announced that Warren S. Stewart III has joined the Company as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, effective immediately. Mr. Stewart was formerly Vice President, Sales, at Cree, Inc., in Durham, North Carolina. He will provide leadership to Rubicon’s global sales and marketing team, reporting to Raja M. Parvez, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Soraa, the world leader in the development of gallium nitride on gallium nitride (GaN on GaN™) LED technology, announced today that it will open a new semiconductor fabrication plant in Buffalo, New York. In partnership with the State of New York, the company will construct a new state-of-the-art GaN on GaN™ LED fabrication facility that will employ hundreds of workers. The new facility is projected to be operational in 2015. Soraa currently operates an LED fabrication plant in Fremont, California, one of only a few in the U.S.

The proposal is based on patent pending intelligent ParallelView™ LED lighting products MagicLight™ and MagicSign™, which are supported by patent pending Plug-n-Power™ AC-DC Power Distribution Systems, resulting in the most comprehensive, energy efficient and environmentally friendly general lighting solutions in the World.

Specializing in the LED automotive lighting niche market and LED commercial lighting market, Laster Tech has benefitted from the continued growth of the Chinese automotive market. With more and more automobiles utilizing LED lights, the LED automotive lighting industry has seen continued growth in 2013. Consolidated revenue for Jan.-Oct. reached NT $1.34 billion (US $43 million), a yearly growth of 34.31 percent.

The release of low priced LED bulbs by Cree acted as a catalyst this year. One by one international companies are speeding up their LED lighting market strategy. GE Lighting Solutions (GE) hosted their 2014 new product conference on November 19th 2013, with lighting partners Lextar, Chicony, and LiteOn. GE announced the return of the LED Omni A19 to the Taiwanese market and showcased a multitude of new products.

NVC Lighting (NVC) received a visit from UK Birmingham Councilor Sir Albert Bore on November 15th to the company’s Lighting Experience Center in Chongqing where both sides entered into an in-depth discussion regarding investment and development of the NVC Birmingham factory. CEO Wu Changjiang of NVC spoke in detail about the company’s management concept and overseas expansion plans. Among the industries in China encountered during Bore’s trip to China, he expressed that NVC is the only company to receive investments from the city. Both sides hope to cooperate in investment and development of NVC UK.

Korea research organization UBI Research compares archrival LG Electronics and Samsung 55-inch OLED TVs in its latest research report. Below is the research organization’s press release.

Dialog Semiconductor plc (FWB: DLG), a provider of highly integrated power management, AC/DC, solid state lighting and short-range wireless technologies, today announced a strategic collaboration with Sengled, a global leading provider of LED lighting solutions and Dialog’s first partner for the commercialization of Dialog’s smarteXiteTM platform. Based on fully configurable logic, smarteXite integrates the latest digital dimming standard – Ledotron™ – and enables a new generation of highly flexible and intelligent LED driver ICs for smart lighting applications.

The Albuquerque Convention Center, a multi-purpose event complex with more than 270,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space, recently selected energy efficient LED lighting from Cree, Inc. (Nasdaq: CREE) to improve the facility and provide better illumination for visitors. Powered by Cree TrueWhite® Technology and Lutron® controls, the LED luminaires deliver superior light quality to the East Complex of the Convention Center, while reducing the Convention Center’s annual lighting energy usage from an industry standard 40 percent to just 7.6 percent of its total energy usage.

With increased demand for LED lighting this year, large global lighting manufacturers have been strategizing their next move in the LED lighting market. The Taiwan LED bulb market has emerged as a strategically important area. Following the release of color tunable LED bulbs by Liteon subsidiary Leotek, U.S. manufacturer GE announced on November 19th that the GE LED Omni A19 will return to the Taiwan market next month. The new generation LED Omni A19 not only has increased brightness, but also more competitively priced.